Editing Fielding (cricket) (section)

==Restrictions on field placement==
{{main|Fielding restrictions (cricket)}} 
Fielders may be placed anywhere on the field, subject to the following rules. At the time the ball is bowled:
*No fielder may be standing on or with any part of their body over the [[cricket pitch|pitch]] (the central strip of the playing area between the wickets). If their body casts a shadow over the pitch, the shadow must not move until after the batter has played (or had the opportunity to play) at the ball.
*There may be no more than two fielders, other than the wicket-keeper, standing in the quadrant of the field behind square leg. See [[Bodyline]] for details on one reason this rule exists.
*In some [[one-day cricket|one-day matches]]:
**During designated [[over (cricket)|overs]] of an [[innings]] (see [[Powerplay (cricket)|Powerplay]]), there may be no more than two fielders standing outside an oval line marked on the field, being semicircles centred on the middle stump of each wicket of radius {{convert|30|yards}}, joined by straight lines parallel to the pitch. This is known as the fielding circle.
** For overs no. 11–40 (powerplay 2), no more than four fielders should be outside the 30-yard circle.
** For overs no. 41–50 (powerplay 3) maximum of five fielders are allowed to be outside the 30-yard circle.

:The restriction for one-day cricket is designed to prevent the fielding team from setting extremely defensive fields and concentrating solely on preventing the batting team from scoring runs.

If any of these rules is violated, an [[umpire (cricket)|umpire]] will call the delivery a [[no-ball]]. Additionally a player may not make any significant movement that is not in response to the striker's actions after the ball comes into play and before the ball reaches the striker. If this happens, an umpire will call and signal 'dead ball'. For close fielders, anything other than minor adjustments to stance or position in relation to the striker is significant. In the outfield, fielders may move in towards the striker or striker's wicket; indeed, they usually do. However, anything other than slight movement off line or away from the striker is to be considered significant.